Cpt. Dr. Lucjusz Albin Wajszczuk – („Wanderings” - II) http://www.wajszczuk.pl/polski/drzewo/tekst/0086lucjusz.htm - new findings, (WJW – 13.2.2021)

Military Service during September campaign of 1939, search – II (2020)

Continuation of the search in the Central Military Archives in Rembertów was possible thanks to the courtesy of Prof. Adam Ostanek

New Information:

1/ 1916-1918, Charków - Unia Stowarzyszeń Polskiej Młodzieży Niepodległościowej - member 2/ 29.VII.1939 – 26.IX.1939 – kadra zapasowa kawalerii, Lapigóz/Luków, st. lekarz kadry* 3/ 1943 – 1944, Siedlce - Polski Związek Wolności (PZW) * entries in the military ID pocket booklet of Cpt. Dr. Lucjusz Wajszczuk – provided the date of termination of his military service in 1939 as - 26.IX.1939. A similar date - 27.IX.1939 appears, as a date of dissolution of his military unit. Next entry is from 1945 and gives a new date of drafting to the Polish Peoples’ Army, already as a major – 6.II.1945).

A search in the Central Military Archives was repeated again in Nov. 2020 by Prof Adam Ostanek. The new findings, which were submitted by him included a few very important pieces of information, which were not available earlier. They described some of his activities, as a medical student in Kharkow, , some details of participation in an Underground Organization during the German occupation, detailed route of his unit in September and date of disbanding on September 27, following a major defensive battle with the Russians, who were invading from the east. None of this information was ever available to the family. If known and discovered - as an officer, he would have shared the fate of others (thousands were murdered by the SOVIETS at Katyń in the spring of 1940 and the family would have been sent to SYBERIA, where only a small portion survived the war!

HE BARELY ESCAPED CAPTIVITY, UKRAINIAN MURDERs OR SOVIET “KATYN” MASSACRE

Excerpts from a Military Personal ID Record Book

University in Kharkiv

Member of the Polish Students’ Freedom Organization – Unia Stowarzyszeń Polskiej Młodzieży Niepodległościowej – (1916 – 1918) https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unia_Stowarzysze%C5%84_Polskiej_M%C5%82odzie%C5%BCy_Nie podleg%C5%82o%C5%9Bciowej

German occupation

(Siedlce, 1939-1944)

Secret (Underground) Society for aid to children and orphans, 1940 – 1944 Secret Courses for Emergency Service Nurses, 1942 – 1944 Polish Freedom Union (affiliated with the AK), 1943 – 1944

Polski Związek Wolności (PZW) – (1943 – 1944) https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polski_Zwi%C4%85zek_Wolno%C5%9Bci – Polish military-political underground secret organization, which was active from the end of 1939 to the beginning of 1945 in the majority of the polish lands.

History of service in the military (ID entry #33)

New “mystery” information “Kadra Zapasowa Kawalerii, Lapigóz ..., 29.VII.1939 – 26.IX.1939 „Reserve Units (Cadre)”, ...(all Nowogródzka Cavalry Brigade units were dissolved after battles with the Soviets on 26.IX.1939).

Updated and corrected history of service of Cpt. Dr. Lucjusz Albin Wajszczuk (…) 1932 – advanced to a rank of lieutenant 23.III.1939 – 2.VII.1939 – assigned to the 22 (p.p.) , as a regiment physician 29.VII.1939 – 26.IX.1939 – Reserve Cavalry Cadre at Lapigoz/Lukow as a senior physician – 6.II.1945 - 1.V.1945 – R.K.U. (Regional “Replenishment/Recruitment” Command) at Siedlce – physician. Nowogródzka Cavalry Brigade - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nowogr%C3%B3dzka_Cavalry_Brigade

Nowogródzka Cavalry Brigade (Polish: Nowogródzka Brygada Kawalerii) was a cavalry unit of the Polish Army in the interbellum period. It was created on April 1, 1937, out of the Baranowicze Cavalry Brigade. Its headquarters were stationed in the town of Baranowicze. It consisted of several units, garrisoned in several towns located in northernmost part of pre-1939

Nowogródzka BK in 1938

 25th Greater Poland Uhlan Regiment, stationed in Pruzana,  26th Greater Poland Uhlan Regiment, stationed in Baranowicze,  27th King Stefan Batory Uhlan Regiment, stationed in Nieswiez,  3rd Regiment of Mounted Rifles, stationed in Wolkowysk,  9th Regiment of Mounted Artillery, stationed in Baranowicze,  9th Squadron of Pioneers, stationed in Baranowicze,  9th Squadron of Communication, stationed in Baranowicze.

NOTE: The 25, 26 and 27 Reserve Cavalry Cadre units were stationed at Łapigóz/Łuków Participation in Polish September Campaign - The Brigade, commanded by General Władysław Anders, was mobilized as early as March 23, 1939 and, together with Polish 20th Infantry Division (also garrisoned in Baranowicze), was transported to the area of Sierpc and Płock. It became part of the Modlin Army, on August 8, 1939, it was moved north, to the Polish–Prussian border, near the town of Lidzbark. Its purpose was to cover western wing of the Army.

On September 1, 1939, the Brigade faced German 217 I.D. of General Richard Baltzer, west of Mława. On September 4 it organized a successful counterattack, but after Polish positions had been broken, the Brigade had to withdraw south. It was ordered to defend the Vistula river between Dobrzyń and Czerwinsk.

On September 6, 1939, General Anders was informed that his troops became part of the freshly created Warszawa Army under General Juliusz Rómmel, six days later the Brigade was ordered to attack German forces in Mińsk Mazowiecki. The assault began on September 13, together with the Wielkopolska Cavalry Brigade the attacked German 11th I.D. However, without support promised by the Army, the offensive halted. After that, General Rommel ordered the Brigade to move towards Lublin, as mounted troops were of no use in urban warfare in Warsaw. Upon reaching the area of Lublin, the Brigade became part of Northern Front, commanded by General Stefan Dąb- Biernacki. It took part in heavy fights in the Battle of Tomaszów Lubelski. In the morning of September 27, 1939 the Germans, using aircraft, artillery and tanks, managed to destroy the Brigade.

25th Greater Poland Uhlan Regiment - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/25th_Greater_Poland_Uhlan_Regiment

25th Greater Poland Uhlan Regiment (Polish: 25 Pułk Ułanów Wielkopolskich, 25 puł) was a unit of the Polish Army in the Second Polish Republic. Formed in 1920, it fought both in the Polish–Soviet War and the 1939 . In 1924–1939, the regiment was garrisoned in the town of Pruzany (current Belarus), and belonged to Nowogródzka Cavalry Brigade.

During the 1939 Invasion of Poland, the regiment was part of Nowogródzka Cavalry Brigade. On September 23, 1939, the unit carried out a famous in the Battle of Krasnobród. The uhlans managed to push the Wehrmacht out of the town of Krasnobród, capturing the staff of German 8th Infantry Division. The regiment was finally destroyed on September 27 near Wladypol (current Ukraine), and its survivors crossed the Hungarian border, to continue fighting in the West. In recognition of the bravery of its soldiers, the 25th Greater Poland Uhlan Regiment was awarded the Virtuti Militari.

26th Greater Poland Uhlan Regiment - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/26th_Greater_Poland_Uhlan_Regiment

26th Greater Poland Uhlan Regiment of Hetman Jan Karol Chodkiewicz (Polish: 26 Pułk Ułanów Wielkopolskich, im. Hetmana Jana Karola Chodkiewicza, 26 puł) was a cavalry unit of the Polish Army in the Second Polish Republic. Formed in July 1920, it fought both in the Polish-Soviet War and the 1939 Invasion of Poland. The regiment, named after Jan Karol Chodkiewicz, was garrisoned in the town of Baranowicze (now Belarus), with its reserve cadre squadron garrisoned in Lukow. In 1939, it belonged to Nowogrodzka Cavalry Brigade.

In the Second Polish Republic, the regiment was garrisoned in Baranowicze, and was famous for strict “Prussian-style” discipline, imposed on its soldiers.

27th Uhlan Regiment (Poland) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/27th_Uhlan_Regiment_(Poland)

The 27th King Stefan Batory Uhlan Regiment (: 27 Pułk Ułanów im. Króla Stefana Batorego, 27 puł) was a cavalry unit of the Polish Army during the Second Polish Republic. Formed in July 1920, it fought in the Polish-Soviet War and the 1939 Invasion of Poland. The regiment was garrisoned first in Wloclawek, to be moved in August 1921 to Nieswiez (now Belarus). In 1939, it was part of the Nowogrodzka Cavalry Brigade. It fought in several battles in September 1939, capitulating to the Red Army near Wladypol, on September 27, 1939. Medical doctor (staff) – kpt. lek. Jerzy Roman Szmelczyński (also kpt. lek. Lucjusz Wajszczuk. – 23.III.1939 – early („alarm”) mobilization 29.VII.1939 – 26.IX.1939 – cavalry reserves cadre, Lapigóz, senior physician Maps of the September 1939 campaign (below) were consturcted based on the information contained in the more detailed polish version of the history: https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/27_Pu%C5%82k_U%C5%82an%C3%B3w On March 23 1939, the 27 Cavalry (Uhlan) regiment was mobilized during the alarm mobilization of the units of the District IX Corps, as a unit of the Nowogródzka Cavalry Brigade. After reaching on March 25 a marching readiness, next day it was transported by rail to a location north-east of Sierpc, Regimental staff and quartermaster squadron were located in a village of Rosciszewo, and the remainder in neighboring villages. On August 8 , the regiment was moved to the polish-german birder region, along a snall river Działdówka.

During the last two days they were fighting either with Germans or with the Soviets/Russians

17 September 1939 – Soviet invasion of Poland

German and Soviet officers in friendly conversation during a victory parade in Bialystok - 22.IX.1939

Magnified map segment showing more details of movements and military activities during the last few days before surrender (24.IX.1939 – 27.IX.1939). A thin diagonal gray line indicates current border between Poland and Ukraine. Before the war, all this territory was part of the Polish Republic.

The last two days, they spent fighting off the GERMANS and the SOVIETS! Road map of Poland – 1936/37. Only three out of the locations in the area of Zamosc (i.e. – Krasnobrod, Ruda Rozaniecka(?) and Horyniec could be identified - https://niezlomni.com/mapa-samochodowa-stanu-drog-w-polsce-na-rok-1936-1937/

Cavalry Reserve Center „Łuków” - https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/O%C5%9Brodek_Zapasowy_Kawalerii_%E2%80%9E%C5%81uk%C3%B 3w%E2%80%9D Cavalry Reserve Center „Łuków” did not exist in the Polish Army at the peace time. It was a unit which was mobilized according to the Mobilization Plan „W”” (planem mobilizacyjnym „W”) during the phase I of the universal mobilization plan The mobilizing unit of the Cavalry Reserve Center “Lukow: was the Reserve Cadre „Łuków” at Łukow - (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%81uk%C3%B3w). A main task of this center was training of the reserves for the Nowogrodzka Brygada Kawalerii - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nowogr%C3%B3dzka_Cavalry_Brigade . Three marching squadrna were organized n the center:  25th Greater Poland Uhlan Regiment - commander Lt.. Tadeusz Basiński  26th Greater Poland Uhlan Regiment – commander łt. dowódca por. Konstanty Bordziłowski  3rd Mounted Riffle Regiment - dowódca rtm. Bronisław Korzon. These three squadrons reinforced the units of the Podolskiej Brygady Kawalerii and participated in tha battles along with the other of the Brigade. The Collection Squadron for the 25 and 26 Uhłan Regiment under command of the Cavalry Cpt. Marian Jadownicki, which was included in the Lt. Col. Wania unit, after September 20, and fought together with the 7 Uhlan Regiment. The remaining units, which found themselves in this center were made into an improvised Cavalry Unit of Lt. Col. Wislocki. (Oddział kawalerii ppłk. Wisłockiego).

Polish cavalry - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polish_cavalr y#World_War_II

The Polish cavalry (Polish: jazda, kawaleria, konnica) can trace its origins back to the days of medieval cavalry . Poland is mostly a country of flatlands and fields and mounted forces operate well in this environment. The knights and gradually evolved into many different types of specialised mounted military formations, some of which heavily influenced western warfare and military science. This article details the evolution of Polish cavalry tactics, traditions and arms from the times of mounted knights and heavy winged , through the times of light uhlans to mounted infantry equipped with ranged and mêlée weapons.

World War II - During the German invasion of Poland in 1939, cavalry formed 10% of the Polish Army.[2] Cavalry units were organised in 11 cavalry brigades, each composed of 3 to 4 cavalry regiments with organic artillery, armoured unit and infantry battalion. Two additional brigades had recently been converted to motorized and armoured units, but they retained their cavalry traditions. In addition, every infantry division had an organic cavalry detachment used for reconnaissance.

In contrast with its traditional role in armed conflicts of the past (even in the Polish-Soviet War), the cavalry was no longer seen as a unit capable of breaking through enemy lines. Instead, it was used as a mobile reserve of the Polish armies and was using mostly infantry tactics: the soldiers dismounted before the battle and fought as a standard infantry. Despite media reports of the time, particularly in respect of the Battle of Krojanty, no cavalry charges were made by the Polish Cavalry against German tanks. The Polish cavalry, however, was successful against the German tanks in the Battle of Mokra.[3] The Polish cavalry did not discard the as a weapon until 1934 or 1937 and continued to use it for training purposes up to the outbreak of World War II.

Wz. 35 anti-tank rifle - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wz._35_anti-tank_rifle

The Model 35 antitank rifle (Karabin przeciwpancerny wzór 35, abbreviated "kb ppanc wz. 35") was a Polish 7.9 mm anti-tank rifle used by the Polish Army during the 1939 Invasion of Poland. It was designated model 35 for its design year, 1935: It was also known by its codename "Uruguay", after that country (kb Urugwaj; or kb Ur) and by the name of its designer, Józef Maroszek(pl).

The weapon was initially a top secret project of the Polish Army, and was also known by various codenames. Until mobilization in 1939, the combat-ready rifles were held in closed crates marked: "Do not open! Surveillance equipment!". Another of the rifle's cover names was "Uruguay" (Polish: Urugwaj, hence Ur), the country to which the "surveillance equipment" was supposedly being exported.

In early 1940, one of the rifles, its stock and barrel sawed off, was smuggled out of Poland across the Tatra Mountains into Hungary for the Allies by Krystyna Skarbek and fellow Polish couriers. The rifle never saw service with the Allies, however. The drawings and specifications had been destroyed by the Poles during the invasion of Poland.